Advice please re driving modes and Keyless Entry

[Norn Iron]

Hi,
We are up-sizing tomorrow! We are trading in our Polo GTI for a Golf Mk7.5 GTi PP. This was due to happen end of March but for some reason it was delayed!
Despite the Polo GTi bring £10k cheaper, it doesn't tick all our boxes since we got it from new 2 years ago.
I would welcome any advice on a couple of issues.
1) My only major concern is Keyless Entry. We would like to disable it.
I'm more than happy with the remote control fob that has worked well on my cars I've had since the last Century! I've read some of the feedback here that if you push the button etc it will do this. However, when I texted the Showroom (working from home) I was advised that it's only a temporary measure and shouldn't be used on a long term basis. Any thoughts on whether this is true and what can be done, would be greatly appreciated.
2) Now that we are swapping the Polo GTI, I have been driving it in Sport Mode. Due to the lockdown, I haven't refilled the tank so can't do a proper MPG. Are there any MPG differences between Sport and Eco and if so, what?
If anyone would like me to do a review on our pending upgrade from a Polo GTI to the 7.5PP, just let me know.
Many thanks.

[CookieMonsterGTi]

Not sure on if its model year specific but if you lock you car with the fob and then touch the door handle within a few seconds it disables keyless.  - But you have to do it every time you lock, its not a permanent setting.

[kmpowell]

I've read some of the feedback here that if you push the button etc it will do this. However, when I texted the Showroom (working from home) I was advised that it's only a temporary measure and shouldn't be used on a long term basis. Any thoughts on whether this is true and what can be done, would be greatly appreciated.

Dealer's talking bollocks.

Personally I deactivate keyless every time I lock the car. It's all a matter of getting into the sequence routine, once you're in it'll become second nature. Lock car with fob, then press the keyless 'button' on the handle within a few seconds, this completely deactivates keyless until the car is next unlocked with the fob.

My demo of how to do it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s88dU2jzQw

EDIT to add - as mentioned below, home security (locks etc) is just as important as deactivation. If they can't get it via relay, they 'may' come back to try and force entry.

[SRGTD]

@Norm Iron; As an owner of a previous generation Polo GTI who’s considering changing their car later this year, I’d be interested to hear which boxes your Polo GTI didn’t tick.

Nothing in the owners manual that states temporarily disabling keyless entry shouldn’t be used on a long term basis, so I’d say the dealer is talking rubbish. If you’re worried about potential theft risks associated with keyless entry and the signal being intercepted by perpetrators with signal relay equipment, then you could always keep your keys in something like a Faraday pouch or metal biscuit tin when you’re at home to block the signal if you don’t want to use the temporary disabling function. From what I’ve read on various VW forums, it seems there’s a higher incidence of car thefts as a result of the keys being stolen from owners homes rather than the key fob signal being intercepted on keyless cars, so upgrading your home security is worth considering.

I thought the main difference between the driving modes was the throttle mapping, so in Eco you need to push the accelerator pedal harder to reduce / eliminate the dull throttle response, which probably defeats the the purpose of Eco, if you’re having to use a heavier right foot. IMO driving a performance car in Eco mode kind of defeats the purpose of having a performance car. Just my opinion though.

Would be interested in your ‘upgrade’ review, once you’ve had an opportunity to drive your new car. Forum member Monkeyhanger did the opposite to you; he sold his performance Golf (Golf R) and replaced it with a Polo GTI+, and then got a second Polo GTI+ for his wife.

[Watts]

The only advantage economywise with Eco mode is the coasting function (possibly only on DSG?) which will only be effective on long steady runs. The disadvantage of Eco is making your GTI feel more like a 1.0 in response. I don't bother. Otherwise if you want to be economical just adopt an economical approach to the way you drive. Mine is in Normal for the trottle all the time (albeit with a pedalbox to up the throttle response) and I get excellent economy when I want it.

[fredgroves]

There is some differences to MPG on eco mode but not enough for you to care IMHO.

ECO mode ALSO turns the aircon to low (ie inneffective) and the cornering lights off... it also sets ACC to slug mode, which is dangerous on the motorway IMHO.

Personally, just learn to push the throttle gently and back off regularly, don't floor it unless you need to (not every traffic light is the lights going out at Silverstone) and don't try to drive too fast. The difference between 70mph and 80mph on the motorway is quite a lot of fuel - drag is an exponential force.

Obviously thats for everyday and not when you want a bit of fun, but doing the boring stuff at a sensible pace can really make a large difference over the miles and years.

A modern hot hatch like a Golf can return reasonable fuel economy, you don't need to waste fuel unless its for fun.

[Ryan90GTI]

One of the best tips we were told at work was let it coast for a minimum of 3 seconds before you plan on touching the brakes.

I often use this technique when coming off the motorway or coming up to a junction.

[Norn Iron]

Thanks everybody for your advice. Superb. Eco it won't be!
Thanks also to KMPowell. I will be forwarding the video to the showroom. Excellent.
Yep, the Faraday Cage principle I understand. However, to then keep it at a different location to my keyring seems to defeat the object of making life easier!  I don't see Keyless Entry being anything but a hindrance in our case.
I used to go onto the Polo forum and am aware of Monkeyhangar (Hartlepool?). I started a thread on there re squeaky rear brakes as we were getting nowhere to alleviate this noise.
Our main reason for up-sizing is for my wife's betterment! Slightly longer leg room, slightly wider space and dual climate controls were paramount in our decision making. The fact that I've always wanted a Golf GTI, which my wife knows all too well about, and would have the upgrades required was one thing but to find an ex-demo with £10K knocked off the original list price was another! I couldn't initially justify the price difference between a Polo GTI and its bigger brother.
The old saying that you should never buy a new model in its first year of production is certainly true in our case. Too many issues and phone calls/emails to VW Customer Service to flag issues they were unaware of confirms, that in our case, the old saying is true. Now that the Polo GTI is into its third year of manufacture, I hope they've fixed all those annoying niggles, the brakes in particular. I did receive a very nice food hamper from Customer Service so it wasn't all bad!
Having had a test drive of it, pre-lockdown, the first major difference is in the sound of the doors bring shut! Polos are tinny compared to that classic, aircraft door locking sound in the Golf. Apart from that, I can't remember much else in driving differences. Will advise later on!

[Exonian]

Welcome Norn Iron 

I’m not a huge fan of keyless either, I’ve had it on two cars now and am unconvinced of its worth.
Not from the theft angle, I just don’t see the point of it unless you carry a massive handbag with the car key at the bottom of it buried.


The comparison review is compulsory by the way! We’d love to hear your thoughts 

Oh, and congrats!

[Norn Iron]

Thanks Exonian for your kind words. If it's compulsory, then I will abide by the rules!
Will post in a few days time but under a new heading.